|
Nick pulled Olivia close and held her in his arms. After awhile her breathing slowed and he knew she was asleep. Nick was exhausted as well, but his mind kept thinking of the sad tale Olivia had told him.
"How awful." he thought to himself.
"No wonder it was so hard for her to open up." He glanced at his watch and noticed the time. Nick eased himself out from under Olivia and gently laid her down on the couch. He figured he would just go back to the hotel, she had a lot on her mind when she fell asleep, and would probably want to be alone when she awoke.
Spying a note pad on the refrigerator, Nick went over and wrote a note to Olivia.
"Olivia,
I decided to go back to the hotel so you could have some space. We will be there for a couple more days before we have to head back to England. Please, if you want, give me a call. I will be waiting.
Nick"
Nick laid the note on the table by the couch, bent over and kissed Olivias' cheek, then let himself out the door.
"You look like hell, Rhodes!" Simon bellowed as Nick joined him and John for breakfast.
"Thanks." Nick quipped as he took his seat. "Long night, eh?" John asked as he wiggled his eyebrows. "Yes...but not like you think. I was wondering, what would you guys think if I brought some company with me, when we go back to England?"
"Company?" asked John.
"Yes, I'd like to bring Olivia with me."
"You've got it bad, Rhodes!" Simon yelled.
Nick and John shot Simon a look and he went back to listening quietly.
"Have you asked her yet?" John questioned.
"Umm.....no, not yet, but that's what I'm planning to do."
"You like her a lot, eh mate?"
"I do." Nick replied.
"Then why do you look so down? You should be happy and smiling."
"I'm just exhausted. It was a long night."
"Well" John began. "Olivia's more than welcome to fly back with us. I think it would be great myself."
"Yeah, but what about Simon?"
"Don't worry about him."
"Speaking of Simon, where the hell did he wander off to now?" Nick asked as he looked around.
"Ah!" John said. "He's over there chatting up that girl."
"Bloody hell. We're gonna have to get a leash for him." Nick joked.
"Hmmm...I think a shock collar would work better."
The two friends burst into a fit of hysterical laughter.
"What's funny?" Simon asked as he took his seat.
"You wouldn't understand." John chuckled.
"Right." Nick laughed. "I'm gonna go up to my room for a bit, maybe grab a nap."
He left Simon and John and entered the elevator. A little nap sounded great, he was mentally and physically drained. The elevator finally reached his floor. He walked to his room and opened the door. When he entered, all of his thoughts centered on Olivia as he saw her business card on the table. He took his jacket off and relaxed on the sofa., still thinking of Olivia.
He was startled out of a deep, dreamless sleep by the loud ringing of the phone.
" 'Ello?" he said still half asleep.
"Nick?"
"Olivia!" he said fully awake now.
"Are you ok?" she asked.
"I'm fine, I must've fallen asleep. How are you?"
"I'm fine. I'm sorry I woke you."
"No, I'm glad you called. Don't apologize."
"Are you busy today?" she asked.
"No. The whole day is free. Would you like to get together?"
"That would be great Nick."
"Where would you like to go?"
"Ummm....I was wondering if you'd like to come over here? I could make dinner for you."
"You don't have to do that, Olivia."
"No, I want to. Please Nick."
He couldn't refuse the sound of her voice.
"Alright, but please let me bring something."
"Ok, you can bring the wine." she purred.
"What time should I get there?"
"You can come over now if you want to."
"Give me a few minutes and I'll be there."
"I look forward to it, Nick."
"Me too." he said.
He hung up the phone and headed out the door.
"Where ya off to mate?" called John.
"I'm going to Olivia's."
"Planning another long night?" John asked with a sly smile.
"You're almost as bad as LeBon." Nick chuckled.
"Only joking mate." John laughed. "Go see her."
Nick made a couple of stops on the way to her house. He thought he'd never get there. The cab finally made it, he paid the driver and walked to the door and rang the doorbell.
She opened the door and took his breath away. She was in faded jeans and a white dress shirt. Her hair was down and she looked radiant.
"Olivia." was all he could manage to say.
"I thought you got lost." she laughed.
"Sorry. I made a couple of stops." he replied as he handed her the bottle of wine.
"Thank you. I'll go put it in the kitchen, please make yourself at home. I'll be right back."
Nick walked into the kitchen. She turned when she heard his footsteps.
"Would you like something to drink?" she asked.
"No thank you, I'm fine. I did bring something else for our dinner though."
"You did?"
"Yeah." he replied as he produced a large package.
"What's this?" she asked.
"Open it."
Olivia opened the box and found a large boquet of calla lillies.
"Oh Nick!" she exclaimed. "You really didn't have to do this."
"I wanted to."
Olivia arranged the flowers in a vase and placed them on the table. He saw the smile on her face and noticed that she seemed happier.
"Thank you so much, Nick."
"You're welcome, luv."
She walked away from the table and over to Nick and looked into his eyes.
"Thank you for everything, Nick. Not just the flowers." She said as she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him.
"No need to thank me." he said as he held her tight.
She smiled when their embrace ended and took his hand. She led him into the living room and they got comfortable on the sofa.
"Nick, I'm really sorry about breaking down last night. I know it sort of ruined our evening and I was afraid I scared you away."
"It's alright, Olivia. You didn't ruin anything and you couldn't scare me away. I was very concerned about you though."
"I'm glad I told you instead of keeping it myself and running away."
"I'm glad you trusted me enough to tell me."
"I definitely feel better." She confessed.
"I can tell you're happier."
"Yeah, I am." She said with a smile.
"Hmmmm....I have an idea." She said.
"You do?"
"Stay right here, I'll be right back."
Nick watched her as she walked into another room. She returned a few seconds later and stood in front of him as the music filled the room.
"Would you dance with me Nick?"
"I'd love to." he said as he stood and took her hand.
He held her close as they slowly swayed to the music. Olivia looked up at his face and smiled.
"Have I told you how beautiful you look?" he asked.
"Nick." was all she could manage to say as a blush covered her cheeks.
She gazed into his green eyes and felt happy for the first time in a long time. He raised her chin with his hand, she knew he would kiss her, she wanted him to. When his lips finally touched hers, she returned the kiss that she wanted so badly.
Their kiss lasted until the sound of the timer rang from in the kitchen.
Olivia pulled from Nicks embrace and smiled. "Dinners ready. Hope you like Italian."
"It smells great." Nick said as he and Olivia headed toward the kitchen. The evening was going great. Nick and Olivia talked about anything and
everything. He talked about music and the band. She talked about law school and the firm. Both enthralled by what the other had to say.
"Olivia. I was wondering. Do you have any holiday time coming?" Nick asked as they sat facing each other on Olivias' black leather couch. "About 3 years worth." she said with a laugh. "Well, I was thinking of maybe asking you to accompany me back to England. We have to go back in a couple days to start work on a new album, and I would like for you to come along." "Um...Nick....wow......I don't know." Olivia said as she stood up from the couch.
"I know what you are thinking." Nick said as he stood and faced her."It's sudden. But I like you Olivia. I would like to have more time to get to know you."
"Nick" she started but he quieted her with a sweet, tender kiss. "Just think about it." he purred
"Ok....I will." Olivia said with a smile.
con't next pg.
|
